It's that time of year again, and I've got the travel bug! The adventures will begin with the whole family in Vietnam and Cambodia. After my dad flies home, my ma, sister, and I will explore the beaches of Thailand. Then, my sister and I are let loose to roam Southeast Asia heading towards Nepal and northern India. Mid April I fly to Zambia to volunteer for a month at Appeased School before starting work in San Francisco. Ready or not, HERE I COME!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Instinct

Number one rule of traveling: always trust your instinct. No
matter where you are or what is going on, if you get a bad feeling, trust it.
Especially being a women. Don’t be scared to say no. There is no such thing as
a grey area, and if you feel like you’re heading that way, say no. Be straight
forward and stern. Though, saying no doesn’t mean you’re being impolite or
rude. You can be nice while still keeping to your opinion and standing strong.

There are different limits in all cultures, but you have
your own limits and they shouldn’t be crossed, no matter what culture you are
in. Yes language barriers and being open-minded can make it difficult to
decipher your limits, but always remember, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Are people really that nice or does niceness come with a
toll? Of course there are genuinely nice people out there who care about
others, but there are defiantly people who take advantage of the system. Signs
to look for:

1.Does the person continue to talk about how good
they are? Even after you’ve acknowledge that they are a good person, do they
still persist to tell you so?

2.Do they try to convince you to do something and
use numerous tactics as to why to do it, or why to trust them?

3.They talk down upon other people.

4.They slyly mention repayment numerous times.

Never feel pressured or rushed to do anything. Take your
time, think about the options, and make the decision for yourself. Often times
persistent people have a different plan in mind, so don’t become the victim.

Be prepared. Sometime things don’t go the way you planned.
Always have a plan B which may change as the circumstances change. Constantly
think about what is going on and if anything seems weird or suspicious. The
more you can see ahead, the easier the present decisions will be.

Confrontation is key. When in a difficult situation, be as
blunt as possible. I have heard numerous stories from friends that when being
followed, turning around and confronting the person is often times the safest
thing to do.

Suzie and I got the opportunity to talk to a women who has
done an extensive amount of traveling, alone and with others. These are words
of wisdoms and knowledge from a collection of traveling souls. With this
knowledge Suzie and I have stayed safe and responsible throughout our travels.
Please take the advice however you wish.